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A professional dancer whose life changed overnight after a heart transplant now helps others in need. Angie Crouch has the Life Connected report for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, 2015. (Published Sunday, June 7, 2015)

As a backup dancer for Gloria Gaynor and Donna Sumer, Ava Kaufman toured the world. She was the picture of health until 2009 when an autoimmune disease damaged her heart.

One day she collapsed and woke up in a hospital bed at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Her doctors gave her startling news.

"They woke me up and told me I had a heart transplant," Kaufman said.

Kaufman found that she could no longer walk or talk. She thought about giving up. But one thing kept her going: her 11-year-old daughter, Jade.

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(Published Monday, June 1, 2015)

Ava made a deal with God.

"I said, ‘If you let me be Jade's mom and go back to who I was before, I would spend the rest of my life giving back,’" Kaufman said.

Within months, she was back on her feet. She decided to start a non-profit organization called Ava's Heart. The foundation helps transplant patients pay for housing and other living expenses while they're getting treatment.

"Usually in the first three months we require that patients stay locally. That's an expense in California, renting an apartment if you don't have family. Ava has made it possible for our patients who don't have that support," Alejos said.

Kaufman's foundation is helping pay for housing for Marty Vece. The 45 year old is on the transplant list for a new heart. He had to quit his teaching job in Las Vegas and move his family to Southern California so he can be near UCLA Medical Center when a heart comes through.